NewLeaf Symbiotics, a St Louis, Missouri-based agricultural biotechnology company focused on the commercialization of beneficial plant bacteria, announced today that it has closed a $17 million Series B round of financing. The proceeds will be used to further accelerate its successful R&D program, ramp up production from pilot to commercial scale, and go to market with its first biological products. Otter Capital led the round and was joined by existing investors RockPort Capital, Open Prairie Ventures and Pangaea Ventures. NewLeaf closed a $7 Million Series A round in January 2013.